§ 16. Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current situation regarding the boycott of local councils by certain members.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Richard Needham)I deprecate the actions of some district councillors in Northern Ireland who have failed to discharge their responsibilities to their ratepayers. I very much hope that they will return to the council chamber to represent their constituents. In the meantime, the Government will continue to take such action as is necessary to ensure that essential services and jobs are not put at risk.
§ Mr. MeadowcroftI accept and sympathise with the genuine dilemma faced by many Unionist councillors as between their deep loyalty to local government and their commitment to their party. I note that some of them have returned to their duties. Does the Secretary of State accept that it is an interesting point that the apparent solidarity of Unionist representation here does not reflect the differences between different parts of the Unionist cause in the north of Ireland?
§ Mr. NeedhamI hope that the hon. Gentleman will agree with me that, whatever the depth of feeling that Unionist councillors may have, there is no excuse for not looking after their constituents, not attending councils and not abiding by the law of the land.
§ Mr. CashDoes my hon. Friend agree that if Unionists are as divided as they clearly are in the Province of Northern Ireland, it does not help those of us who would like to see some degree of devolution in local government as well as in the more general political sense in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. NeedhamI agree with my hon. Friend. The sooner that Unionist councillors go back to their councils—many of them have done so—the better it will be for everybody.